Automated network control and supervision

At energy markets driven by deregulation and liberalization processes under way in central and eastern European countries, information and its processing is gaining key importance. Energy trading will require risk management of multiple aspects of power engineering, and decision-making and implementation-support tools will be increasingly helpful. The need for computer support is of particular concern to network companies. Just like control and supervision systems, computer support is subject to far-reaching technical and functional integration. The dynamic development and dissemination of microcomputing technology as well as the transition to a market-oriented approach of power engineering makes this possible, and the introduction of automatic control and supervision systems at all voltage levels is required. This includes distribution lines and substations. The cost of such solutions is decreasing at the present time and may be treated as justified costs in networking power utilities due to increased requirements for energy supply and customer services. This article deals with some main issues of automatic control and supervision systems development and their integration into the general functions of networking power companies. It also discusses common technical frameworks, including their potential application at the national power engineering level.